Avoid These Home Selling Mistakes

Finding the right Realtor® for you is extremely important. Don’t rush this step. Look for someone with experience, who has had recent sales. Make sure to ask questions, get referrals and do your homework.

You need someone who keeps up with the latest technology for selling homes. Also pick someone who understands your needs. You should feel comfortable with them and know that they will represent your home properly.

Don’t set the price too high

If you set the price too high, it will scare off potential buyers and lower the number of offers you will receive. People look for a home within a certain price range, one they can afford. If yours is out of their bracket, they won’t even look at the pictures.

What you paid for the house cannot enter into your calculation. You must look at the other homes that have sold in your neighborhood, homes that are comparable to yours and price your house accordingly. In the end, you’ll make more money if you set the price correctly.

Don’t pester the prospective buyer

You’re excited. You’re eager to sell your home and want to make sure that every prospective buyer knows how much love and attention you put into your home. The tiles you purchased on your trip to Italy, the molding in the entry way, all the little details that are important to you.

You must curb your enthusiasm and leave your buyers be. Allow them to walk freely through your home and notice things for themselves. They need privacy. Prospective buyers want to try out your home for themselves, to see if it might work for them. If you’re following them around, from room to room, chatting with them, they can’t do that. Better yet, consider leaving the home when potential buyers visit and take pets with you.

Don’t skimp on the necessary improvements

Repairs cost money. You’re interested in selling your home. Can’t the buyer just make the repairs when they move in? Well, the first step is to get a buyer. It may be hard to do that if there are obvious flaws. Your Realtor® can advise you about what repairs are important.

Remember, too, that the little cosmetic changes can make a big difference. Unpleasant odors, unappealing stains, messy rooms and overgrown lawns will turn buyers off. They are easy to fix – you just need to look at the house through a buyer’s eyes.

Don’t fill your home with personal clutter

When a prospective buyer is looking over your home, it’s easy for them to get distracted by your personal family photos and decorations. They want to pretend that this could be their home, with their belongings. It’s best to pack up most of your knickknacks and leave just enough decoration to give buyers the feeling of a furnished home. And make sure that the counters are all cleared of clutter. Your goal should be to make your house look like a model home.

Don’t accept a buyer who isn’t pre-approved

If you accept an offer from a buyer who isn’t qualified for a loan, you could end up wasting months. And if you have a standard contract, they will be entitled to receive their deposit back. Make sure they get pre-approved. This means that they can get a loan, given their current situation and that a lender has reviewed all their documents.